From Egypt to Canaan: A Phenomenological Study of the Racial Messaging Black Males Received While Attending Conservative Christian Schools

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Willis, E. (2022). From Egypt to Canaan: A Phenomenological Study of the Racial Messaging Black Males Received While Attending Conservative Christian Schools. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Since the full desegregation of all Christian schools in 1983 there has been limited inquiry into the role of race in these academic institutions. Furthermore, Christian education literature has had limited exploration into the role of race. When race is explored in Christian schools it often centers White voices. In the absence of much research, it has led some to believe that there is greater racial harmony in these environments. This study fills the void because it centers Black male voices in an interpretive phenomenological analysis of concerning the racial messages that they received while attending conservative Christian schools. This study explored the racial messages that 14 Black males who attended both predominantly White and Black led conservative Christian schools, born between 1981-2003, received while attending these schools. This interpretive phenomenological study utilized the Black Critical Theory framework to guide the research and asked the following questions: What were the racial messages that Black boys received while attending Conservative Christian Schools? How did the racial messaging shape their understanding of race and their self as Black males? How did the Black males perceive Christian teachings to be a part of the racial dynamics in these CCS? The research participants were recruited using criterion sampling and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings from this study indicated that Black males received differing messages based on the racial make-up of the school and its leadership. Four themes emerged from the findings. Black males who attended Black-led conservative Christian Schools received a message that Black is excellent. In the environment the Participants saw that Black was free. They came view Blackness as diverse and developed a sense of Black pride. Finally, in the Black led conservative Christian school they perceived that religion was serious and it undergirded their anti-racist ethos of the environment. In the predominantly White conservative Christian school the research participants learned that Black is a racial trope. The environment that they entered revealed to them that Black was free with restrictions. Furthermore, the Black students came to view themselves as exceptional negroes, and some came view themselves as inferior when they attended the predominantly White conservative Christian school. Finally, in this environment Black students perceived that they religion was taken less seriously and utilized to normalize Eurocentric values. Finally, this study concluded with recommendations for school administrators, higher ed programs, and Christian school teachers.

Details
Author

Willis, Evan

Title

From Egypt to Canaan: A Phenomenological Study of the Racial Messaging Black Males Received While Attending Conservative Christian Schools

Physical Description

1 online resource (250 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Since the full desegregation of all Christian schools in 1983 there has been limited inquiry into the role of race in these academic institutions. Furthermore, Christian education literature has had limited exploration into the role of race. When race is explored in Christian schools it often centers White voices. In the absence of much research, it has led some to believe that there is greater racial harmony in these environments. This study fills the void because it centers Black male voices in an interpretive phenomenological analysis of concerning the racial messages that they received while attending conservative Christian schools. This study explored the racial messages that 14 Black males who attended both predominantly White and Black led conservative Christian schools, born between 1981-2003, received while attending these schools. This interpretive phenomenological study utilized the Black Critical Theory framework to guide the research and asked the following questions: What were the racial messages that Black boys received while attending Conservative Christian Schools? How did the racial messaging shape their understanding of race and their self as Black males? How did the Black males perceive Christian teachings to be a part of the racial dynamics in these CCS? The research participants were recruited using criterion sampling and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings from this study indicated that Black males received differing messages based on the racial make-up of the school and its leadership. Four themes emerged from the findings. Black males who attended Black-led conservative Christian Schools received a message that Black is excellent. In the environment the Participants saw that Black was free. They came view Blackness as diverse and developed a sense of Black pride. Finally, in the Black led conservative Christian school they perceived that religion was serious and it undergirded their anti-racist ethos of the environment. In the predominantly White conservative Christian school the research participants learned that Black is a racial trope. The environment that they entered revealed to them that Black was free with restrictions. Furthermore, the Black students came to view themselves as exceptional negroes, and some came view themselves as inferior when they attended the predominantly White conservative Christian school. Finally, in this environment Black students perceived that they religion was taken less seriously and utilized to normalize Eurocentric values. Finally, this study concluded with recommendations for school administrators, higher ed programs, and Christian school teachers.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Education

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Black Christian Schools
Black Education
Black Males
Christian Schools
Racial Messages
White Christian Schools

Subject Area

Curriculum & Instruction

Advisor(s)

Lewis, Chance

Committee Members

Miller, Erin
Butler, Bettie
Lim, Jae

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Willis_uncc_0694D_13055

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2688